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I am trying to run a 32 bit OS (Android x86) in VMware Player. It is coming up with the error 'VT-x is not available', even though I have a 64 bit CPU/host OS. Why is this?

I am aware that you cannot virtualise a 64 bit OS inside a 64 bit OS without VT-x, but I assumed this would not be the case for 32 bit. How might I solve this, am I missing a detail here? The CPU I am using is an Intel Pentium p6200, which does not support VT-x. I do not have the option of VT-x. Am I still able to virtualise 32 bit OSes?

I am considering using software virtualisation, such as QEMU, but I would prefer not to because of the slowdown involved.

flumperious
  • 117

1 Answers1

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Remove from the .vmx file the following lines:

  • vvtd.enable = "TRUE"
  • vhv.enable = "TRUE"

It may then work. It could result in abysmal performance and/or crashes, too.

I suggest using an advanced editor like Notepad++ to edit the file. You can also use WordPad.

Update

The following lines are also relevant (though not present in this case):

  • monitor.virtual_mmu = "software"
  • monitor.virtual_exec = "software"

The value can be either software, hardware or automatic. automatic is the default value.

In VMware Workstation 12, I have the following options:

enter image description here

The mode dropdown has the following options, which result in the following virtual_exec/virtual_mmu values:

  • “Automatic”: automatic/automatic
  • “Binary translation”: software/software
  • “Intel VT-x or AMD-V”: hardware/software
  • “Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI”: hardware/hardware

Additionally, the checkboxes toggle the following options:

  • “Disable acceleration for binary translation”: disable_acceleration = "TRUE"
  • “Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI”: vhv.enable = "TRUE"
  • “Virtualize CPU performance counters”: vpmc.enable = "TRUE"

Except disabling acceleration, all options require CPU support.

Because VMware Player does not offer access to all options it supports, you need to edit the .vmx file manually. It’s a regular text file, though it may not have Windows line breaks.

user219095
  • 65,551